Poacher sent to state prison on firearms charge

CHAMBERSBURG - A Fayetteville man pleaded guilty to a firearm and poaching charge last week, sending him to state prison for a minimum of three years.

Ryan L. Bingaman, 28, pleaded guilty to illegal possession of firearms and a misdemeanor count of killing big game out of season Wednesday.

Bingaman was investigated after sharing a picture of a 9-point white-tailed deer on social media outside of the season, according to court documents in the case.

Though Bingaman told investigators he used a crossbow to shoot the deer, when police searched his home they found several firearms, which he was prohibited from possessing due to a prior burglary conviction.

Bingaman also had his hunting license revoked in 2012 for pleading guilty to a killing or taking big-game animals out of season, according to court documents.

During Wednesday's hearing, Bingaman maintained that the deer was killed with a crossbow, though investigators in court documents believed the shot to kill the deer could not have been made by a crossbow.

Bingaman admitted to possessing the firearms, which resulted in his sentence of three years to 10 years in state prison.

Bingaman will pay $5,500 restitution to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, the amount requested as a "replacement" cost.